Slip clutch



J. L. AASLAND f SLIP CI. 'TCH 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5o, 1946 m v. Q 1m@ D fw,

f March 15,1949. JJ.. AASLAND 2,464,477v

SLIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 Patentes Mar. 1s, 1949 sur cLU'roH John L. Ausland, Moline, lll., asslgnor to International Harvester Company, a corporation ol' New Jersey Application August 3o, 194s, sensi No. 693,929

` y1': claims. (ci. '19a-s6) This invention relates to a new and improved slip clutch. More particularly it relates to a clutch adapted to yield and slip upon the attain.

ment of a predetermined maximum load.

An import-ant object of this invention is to provide a vslip clutch combining the principles of a spring-held unit and centrifugal force to cause the clutch to slip upon any predetermined force.l

Another important object of this 'invention is the provision of a positively actuated slip clutch which may yield when an excessive load is being transmitted thereby and which will automatically re-set itself after it has slipped and the speed has beenfdiminished.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specication and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view taken through the slip clutch of this invention and may be described asjtaken on the line I-l of Figure 2.' l p Figure 2 is a sectional viewk taken on the line 2-2 of Figure'1.-

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure l showing the clutch being released.

AFigure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figures l and 3 with the clutch in slipping position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the liney 5-5 of Figure l.

As shown in the drawings: i

The reference numeral I indicates generally a driving sprocket having a cup-like housing member II bolted thereto at I2. This housing, member II comprises a disk-like wall I3 having an integral sleeve bearing member I4 journaled on a shaft I5. A retaining collar I6 is fastened to the shaft I by means. of a pin I1 and prevents the sprocket and integral housing II from moving axially of the one end of the housing I5. The housing I l is provided with an annular flange I8 at the outer edge of the disk I3 and is formed in a direction away from the driving sprocket Ill.l The housing or hub I I carries a dog I9; This dog I9 '1s hinged on valpin 20 supported within spaced journal brackets 2l integral with the hub II. The dog I9 is equipped with a roller member4 22 mounted for rotation at 23 on the outer end of the dog I9. 1

A spring compressor 24 is. journaled aboutthe has a^sleeve portion 29, a radially extending disklike wall 38, and an annular flange 3| bent toward the annular flange I8 on the housing or hub II. The space between the inner ends of the flanges I8 and A3l is relatively slight and thus Vtends to substantially enclose the working elements of the slip clutch so that dustand other foreign objects are prevented from aiecting the I operation of this slip clutch.

yThe sleeve member 29 of the housingv 28 is fastened to the shaft I5 by means of a key 32.

Thus it will be seen that as the housing 28 is rotated this rotation will be imparted to the shaft l5. Ear members 33 and 34 are provided within the housing 28 and define the space within which fixed relationship with respect to the arm 25.

The screw 35 has a head 31 which abuts against the'r lug or ear 34 in the housing 28. ,The screw thus acts as a set screw and deitely positions the spring compressor member 24 with respect to the shaft `25 prior to actual operation of the slip clutch. The other end of the spring is held or guided by the end 33 of af screw 39. The screw 39 threadedly engages the ear or lug 33 in the housing 28 and passes through an enlarged aper ture 48 in an arm 4I of a dog releasing member 42 journaled on the shaft 1.5 in the same manner as the spring .compressor member 24. Y,

v'Ilhe dog releasing member 42 is equipped with a tapered arm 43 at substantially right angles to the arm 4I and contacts the dog member 19. The roller member 22 normally rests in a socket 44 in one side of the arm 25 of the spring compressing member 24. The socketA 44 is of such va shape that as the housing II rotates the dog I9 will impart'rotationaldrive to the housing 28, thus causing drive of the shaft I5. The dog I9 is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 4'5 beyond its center of pivot, and a spring 46fheld by a lug or ear 41 formed integrally with the housing II and having la stud 48 extending upwardly therefrom is adapted to exert an upward force shaft I5 and has substantially diametrically opposed arms 25 and 26. One side of the arm 25 is-adapted to bear against a coil spring 21 mounted in an arcuate position within a housing 28 as best shown in Figure 2. The housing or hub 28 thereagainst which provides a downward force on the socket engaging end of the dog. The. spring 46 is guided at its upper end by a stud.

vextending down from the rearwardly extending portion ofthe dog I9. Another spring 50 corresponds to the spring 21 and is adapted to supi plement this spring so that rotation of the spring compressing -member 24 about the shaft I5 must necessarily compress 'both springs 21 and 50. As

best shown in'Figure 4, the spring 50 is confined In operation the slip clutch functions in a man ner similar to that as described for thedevice shown in Figure 1. The dog I9 drives the spring compressing member 24 by its engagement with the socket 44, and this rotational movement isl imparted through the springs 21 and 50 to the housing 28, which as previously stated is keyed to the shaft I5 ,and hence drives the shaft I5. When a load is applied to the driven shaft I5 there is a tendency to compress the springs 21 and 50. As this load -is increased it will event- 1. A clutch mechanisml comprising a rotary vhaving a portion adapted to engage the socket in said rst member andv impart drive to said driven member through the spring means, said spring means being compressed to a degree commensurate with the load of `the driven member, said second member associated with and movable with l respect to said driven member a lesser degree ually exceed the maximum load desired and as .I shown in FigureV 3 this condition has just been reached. The dog releasing member 42 is permitted slight movement along the screw 39. However, it is limited by the head of the screw 54. As shown in Figure 3, the arm 4I of this dog releasing member 42 has had its movement stopped by abutment against the head 54 of the screw 39. Continuedcompression of the'springs 21 and 50 by the compressor member 24 has advanced the relative position of the spring compressing membery 24 with respect to the dog releasing member 42.` 'Iihus the socket 44 in the -surface of the arm 25'of the spring compressing member 24 has been in effect eliminated by the than said rst member'l and said second member adapted to pass the socket in said rst member when the first member has compressed the spring means and has moved a greater distance with respect lto said drivenfmember than said second member, whereby the dog means is forced from the socket by the second member thus causing the drive to stop.

2. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member adjacent to and in axial alignment with said driving taper arm 43 of this dog releasing member 42. 'i

The dog I9 is thus raised aboutits hinge pin 20 against the action of the spring 46, and immediately upon its withdrawal from the'socket 44 it is permitted to swing outwardly by centrifugal force to the position shown in Figure 4. The driving dog I9 now no longer imparts rotation to any member, and the spring compressing member 24 'and the dog releasing member 42 are permitted kto resume their normal positions as.

shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. As shown in Figure 4, the angular movement of the spring 46 is such that it now is in substantial alinement Iwith the center of the hinge pin 20, thus minimizing the effect of the spring in causing the dog to resume its inward position in the socket 44.

However, just as soon as the speed of the driving sprocket and housing I0 and II, respectively, is reduced the centrifugal force becomes less effective, and when the weakened action of the spring the attainment of any predetermined force.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles-disclosed herein, and I therefore` do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

member, a. shaft positioned axially of said members, said driven member fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith, first and second members journaled on `said shaft, spring'meansy interposed between the first of said members and said driven member, saidtfirst member having a socket therein, hinged dog means on said driving member having a. portion adapted to engage the socket in said first member and impart drive to said driven member through the spring means, said spring means being compressed to a degree commensurate with' the load ofthe driven member, said second member associated with and movable with respect to said driven member a lesser degree than said first member, said second member adapted to pass the socket in said rst member when the rst member has compressed the spring means and has moved aigreater distance with respect to said driven member than said second member, whereby the dog means is forced from the socket` by the second member thus causing the drive to stop, and another spring means arranged and positioned to normally hold and urge said dog in socket engaging position.

, member, a shaft positioned axially of said members, said driven member. fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith, first and second members journaled on said shaft, spring means interposed between the first of said members and said driven member, said first member having a, socket therein, hinged dog means on said driving member having a portion adapted to engage the socket in said first member and impart drive to said driven y member through the spring means, said spring means being compressed to a degree commensurate with the load of the driven member, said second memberassociated with and movable with respect to said driven mem er alesser degree than said firstl member, sa d second member' adapted to pass the socket"4 in said first member when the first member has compressed the spring means and has moved a greater distance with respect to said driven member than said second member, whereby the dog means is forced from the socket by the second member thus causing the drive to stop, said hinged dog means having a por-v tion extending rearwardly of the hinge point opposite the socket engaging Portion, and a spring.

arranged to exert an upward force on said rearwardly extending portion and a downward force ony said socket engaging portion.

4. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotary other and. terminating closely Aadjacent each 'other, whereby the hubs and inturned flanges driving member, a rotary driven member adja- A cent to and in axial alignment with said driving member, a shaft positioned axially of said members, saiddriven member fastened to saidshaft for rotation therewith, first and second members journaled on said shaft, spring means interposed between the first of said members and said driven member, said first member having a socket therein, hinged dog means on said driving member having, a portion adapted to engage the Ysocket in said first member and impart drive to said driven member through the spring means,

form a substantially enclosed housing, means positioned between and associated with said hubs for imparting drive from the driving hub to the driven hub, said means including across arm journaled on the shaft and'extending outwardly to a position adjacent the inturned flanges, ears integral with' the inturned flange of the driven member, a coil spring curved to fit within the annular pocket formed by the fianged driven hub,

v one end of said spring abutting one of said ears said spring means being compressed to a degree commensurate with the load of the driven member, said second member associated with and movable with respect to said driven member a lesser degree than said first member, said second tion, and a spring-arranged toexert anl upward l l' force on said rearwardly extending .portionfand f a downward force `orrsaid;v socket-engaging'.poreA tion, whereby; when the'dog means forcedjout of the socket centrifugal force createdv byhroitaryv motion of the members f throws.' the doglnie`a`ns outwardly againstfthe action V of th'espring and the dogv means remainsY 'outwardly until such time as the speed is reduced sufiiciently so vthat the centrifugal force is overcome .by theaotion of the spring forcing the dog back into engagement with thesocket whereupon driving through the clutch is resumed.

v5. A clutch mechanism comprising be driven, a driving hub member journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven hub member fastened to said shaft for rotational movement therewith. each of said hubs having annular flanges turned inwardly toward each other and terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the hubs and inturned flanges form a substantially enclosed housing, means positioned between .and associated with said hubs for imparting drive from the driving hub to the associated with said driving hub to eiect agdrivi` f ing ofthe driven hubthrough the'fs'pring.

6. A. clutch mechanism comprisingashaft to be driven, a driving hub member journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a, driven hub member fastened to said shaft for rotational a shaft to and one end of the cross arm abutting the other endof the spring, cross arm engaging means associated with said driving hub to effect a driving of the driven hub through the spring, and means associatedl with said cross arm to cause a disengagement of said engaging means at a time when'the cross arm compresses the spring more than some predetermined minimum.

7. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to bedriven, a driving hub member journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven hub member fastened" to said shaft for rotational 'movementgtherewitn1each of said hubs having *annular *anges 'turned inwardly toward each -other and terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the hubs andinturned flanges form a substantially enclosed housing, means` positioned between and associated with said hubs for imparting drive from the driving hub to the driven hub, said means includingl a cross arm journaled on the shaft and extending outwardly l toa position adjacent the inturned flanges, ears ntegral with the inturned ange ofthe driven annular pocket formedbythe fianged'driven hub, oneend ofvsaid springeabuttingone of said ears .a d``one end of tl'ie cross arm abutting the other end of the spring. dogmeanshingedinternally of said driving hub, said c rossgarm having a socket therein,v a portion ofl said dog means normally engaging said socket and effecting a drivmovement therewith, each of said hubs' having ing of the driven memberby the driving member, and means for disengaging said dog means from said socket upon too great a load being applied to the driven hub.

8. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven, a' driving hub member journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven hub member fastened to said shaft for rotational annular flanges turned inwardly toward each other and terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the hubs and inturned flanges form a substantially enclosed housing', means positioned -between and associated with said hubs for imparting drive from the driving hub to the driven hub, said means including a cross arm journaled on the shaft and extending outwardly to a position adjacent the inturned anges, ears integral with the inturned flange of the driven member, a coil spring curved to t within the annular pocket formed by the iianged driven hub,

one end of said spring abutting one of said ears for 'saidjdrivingf hub, said vcross arm having a socket therein, a portion'of said dog means normovement therewith, each of said hubs having annular flanges turned inwardly towardeach mally engaging said socket and effecting a driving of the driven member by the drivingA member, and means responsive to compression of the spring for disengaging said dog means from said socket. a

9. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to member, a'coil spring 'curvedloto Qt within the be driven, a driving hub `member journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven hub member fz .ene. to said shaft for rotational movement .iere'vith, each of said hubs having annular flanges turnedl inwardly toward each other and terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the hubs and inturned flanges form a substantially enclosed housing, means positioned between and associated with said hubs for imparting drive from the driving hub to the driven hub, said means including a cross arm journaled on the shaft and extending outwardly to a position adjacent the inturned anges, ears integral with the inturned ange of the driven member, a coil spring curved to iit within the annular pocket formed by the flanged driven hub, one end of said spring abutting one of said ears and one end of the cross arm abutting the other end of the spring, dog means hinged internally of said driving hub, said cross arm having a socket therein, a portion of said dog means normally engaging said socket and effecting a driving of the driven member by the driving member, and means responsive to compression of the spring for disengaging said dog means from said socket, said last-named means including a member journaled on said shaft adjacent the cross arm and having relative movement with respect to the driven hub inan amount less than the distance the spring compresses.' whereby the member is arranged and constructed to assume occupation of said socket when the spring is compressed substantially'its full amount and thus remove the dog means from the socket.

10. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven, a driving hub member journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven hub member fastened to said shaft for rotational movement therewith, each of said hubs having annular flanges turned inwardly toward each other and terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the hubs and inturned flanges form a substantially enclosed housing, means positioned between and associated with said hubs for imparting drive from the driving hub to the driven hub, said means including a cross arm journaled on the shaft and extending outwardly to a position adjacent the inturned flanges, ears integral with the inturned ange of the driven member, a coil spring curved to fit Within the annular pocket formed by the anged driven hub, one end of said spring abutting one of said ears and one end of the cross arm abutting the other end of the spring, dog means hinged internally of said driving hub, said cross arm having a socket therein, a portion of said dog means normally engaging said socket and effecting a driving of the driven member by the driving member, means responsive to compression of the spring for disengaging said dog means from said socket, said last-named means including a bell-crank member journaled on saidshaft and having one arm adjacent the socket in the cross arm, said bellcrank member having another arm extending outwardly from its journal on the shaft, and means for limiting the rotational movement of the bell-crank member separately from the driven member, whereby the movement of the cross arm by compression of the spring an amount in excess of the permitted movement of the bell-crank member causes the bell-crank member to expel the dog means.

11. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven, an annular driving housing journaled for rotational movement on said shaft. a driven housing member fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith, each of said housings having inturned annular flanges terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the two housings SUP- plement eachother to form a substantially complete clutch mechanism housing, means arranged and constructed within said housings to drive the driven housing by the driving housing and to automatically terminate said driving upon the driven load becoming excessive of any predetermined level, said means including inwardly extending ears spaced around said driven housing, a cross lmember journaled at its center and hinge arms extending radially outwardly in opposite directions, coil spring means positioned between each of said arms and one of said inwardly extending ears and said spring means shaped to conform to the annular housing, and hinged dog means on said driving housing to engage and drive said cross member.

12. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven, an annular driving housing `journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven housing member fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith. each of said housings having inturned annular anges terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the two housings supplement each other to form a substantially complete clutch mechanism housing. means ar-v ranged and constructed within said housings to drive the driven housing by the driving housing and to automatically terminate said driving upon the driven 'load becoming excessive of any predetermined level, said means including inwardly extending ears spaced around said driven houslo extending ears and said spring means shaped to conform to the annular housing, said cross member having a socket therein, a dog hinged to said driving housing and having a portion engaging said socket, and a spring engaging a portion of said dog on theother side of said hinge point, whereby the dog is normally urged to socket engaging position.

13. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven, an annular driving housing journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven housing member fastened to said shaft for rota,- tion therewith, each of said housings having inturned annular anges terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the two housings supplement each other to form a substantially complete clutch mechanism housing, means arranged and constructed within said housings to drive the driven housing by the driving housing and to automatically terminate said driving upon the driven load becoming excessive of any predetermined level, said means including inwardly extending ears spaced around said driven housing, a cross member journaled at its center and hinge arms extending radially outwardly in opposite directions, coil spring means positioned between each of said arms and one of said inwardly extending ears and said spring means shaped to conform to the annular housing, said cross member having a socket therein, a dog hinged to said driving housing and having a portion engaging said socket, a. spring engaging a portion of said dog on the other side of said hinge point, whereby the dog is normally urged to socket position, and a bell-crank shaped member journaled on said shaft adjacent the cross member.'l

speed has reduced suflciently to permit the dog spring tov overcomethe centrifugal force.

14. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft to be driven, an annular driving-housing journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven housing member fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith, each of said housings having inturned annular flanges terminating closely adjacent each other, whereby the two housings supplement each other to form' a substantially complete clutch mechanism housing, means arranged and constructed within saidhousings to drive the driven housing by the driving housing` and to automatically terminate said driving upon theV driven load becoming 'excessive of an'y predetermined level, saidrmeans' including inwardly extending ears spaced around said driven housing,

\a cross member journaled at its center and hinge armsl extending radially outwardly in opposite directions, -coil spring means positioned between each of said arms and one of said inwardly ex:- tending ears and said spring means shaped to conform to the annular housing, 'said cross mem'- ber having a socket therein, a dog hinged to said driving housing and having a portion engaging said socket, a spring engaging a portion of said dog on the other side of said hinge point, whereby the dog is normally urged to socket engaging position, and a bell-crank shaped member journaled on said shaft adjacentthe cross member, said bell-crank shaped member having one arm in substantial alignment with the arm of the cross member having the socket, and having ani other arm associated with an ear on said driven housing and means for adjusting it with respect thereto.

15.- A clutch mechanism' comprising a shaft to be driven, an annular driving housing journaled for rotational movement on said shaft, a driven housing member fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith, each of saidvhousings` having inturned annular anges terminating closely ad` jacent each other, whereby the two housings supplement each other to form av substantially complete clutch mechanism housing, m'eans arranged and constructed within said housings to drive the driven housing by the driving housing and to automatically terminate said driving upon the driven load becoming excessive of any predetermined level, said means including inwardly extending ears spaced around said driven housing, a cross member journaled at its center and hinge arms extending radially outwardly in opposite directions, coil spring meanspositioned between each of said arms and one of said inwardly extending ears and said spring means shaped to conform to the annular housing, said cross member having a socket therein, a dos hinged to said driving housing and havinga portion engaging' said socket, a spring engaginga portion of said dog on the other side of said hinge point, where- 'by the dog is normally urged to socket engaging position, and a bell-crank shaped member journaled on said shaft adjacent the cross member,

said bell-crank shaped member having one arm in substantial alignmentfwith the arm of the cross m'ember having the socket, and having another arm associated with an ear v011 said driven housing and means for adjusting it with respect thereto, said :means for adjusting -comprising a threaded bolt with a head, said'bolt threadedly engaging said ear, and said other bell-crank shaped arm'having an aperture suiiciently large to permit passage of the bolt shank but not the bolt head, whereby adjustment is accomplished by screwing the bolt into or out of the ear thus controlling maximum movement of the bellcrank shaped member with respect to said driven housing. Y 'c 16..A clutch comprisingy a driving member, a driven member, a dog hinged to said driving member, a member movable within predev termined limits with respect vto said driven member, said movable member having a socket therein, and whereby said dog engages said socket and imparts drive from' the driving member to ,the driven member, and means for causin'gl'disen-` gagement of said dog from said socketand ,ceasing the driving of the driven member by the driving member upon the attempt to transmit too great a load. f i

17. A clutch comprising a driving member, a driven member, means for imparting drive from the driving member to the driven member including spring means, a member for compressing said spring means, means dependentupon vthe amount of spring compression` for causing the clutch'to yield, said last-named means comprising a second member adjacent said spring compressing member and arranged and constructed to move a lesser amount than the spring compresses,

and a dog hinged on said driving member and`V adapted to engage and directly drive said compressing member, whereby when the spring is compressed a predetermined amount dependent upon Ithe driven load, the dog is separated from said compressing member the said second member stoppingits relative movement with respect to the driven member prior tofthe stopping of the spring compressing member.

' JOHN L. AAsLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references Iare.` of record in the illetof this patent: 

